Coffin-mold.



W. H. BISWELL.

OOFPIN MOLD.

APPLICATION FILE Patented 001;. 25, 1910.

a SHEE'I'FBHEET 1.

W. H. BISWELL.

GOFFIN MOLD.

APPLIOATION 11.21) MAB-.10, 1910.

WEBLSW W. H. BISWBLL.

GOFFIN MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1910.

Patented 0611.25, 1910.

3 SHEETS-.SHEET 3.

WILLIAM IBISWELL, F FAYETTE, MISSOURI.

GOFFIN-MOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct 25, 1910.

Application filed March 10, 1910. Serial No. 548,429.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BISWELL,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Fayette, in the county of Howard and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coflin-Molds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to molds, and more particularly to molds for burial caskets, and has for its object to provide a means for forming a reinforced concrete structure of this kind.

A further object is to provide a novel method of forming a rabbet in a casket into which a casket top may be set.

In prior devices of this kind, while it has been customary to reinforce the casket by means of metal embedded therein in various ways, the method of arrangement of the reinforcing material has not been efficient in securing widely separated portions of the structure in secure rigid relation or connection. In some of the devices longitudinally extending reinforcing members are embedded in the casket, while in others, transversely disposed tie means are utilized. A casket might easily break in half with the use of the latter means, while the bottom or large portions of the sides might become detached in the use of the former method.

It is therefore an object of the-present invention to provide a reinforcement consisting of an integral receptacle of interlaced metal secure against disruption in itself,

whereby all parts of a casket molded thereupon will be held firmly in connection.

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the device, Fig. 2 is a top view with the top removed, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, Fig. 4: is a cross sectional view, with the rabbet section removed, and the form filled to its first stage with plastic material, Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the rabbet section in place, Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the fastening means for the exterior mold, Fig. 7 is a similar detail showing the fastenings from the interior of the device, Fig. 8 is a similar View of the fastening means for the rabbet section, Fig. 9 represents a burial casket partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a mold comprising an exterior section A and interior section B of similar shape, but of smaller size and spaced inwardly of the exterior section on all sides and the bottom, and having its upper edge spaced below that of the exterior section; and a rabbet section C set detachably upon the interior section, and projecting laterally outward thereof a spaced distance, its outermost ortions being spaced from the inner sur ace of the exterior section, as shown. I

The section A comprises simply a rec tangular box open at the top, the sides 10 and ends 11 of which are detachable from the bottom, as shown. The bottom is pro vided with longitudinally spaced mortises 13, along its side edges, and the sides are provided with a plurality of pendent tenons 1.4 adapted for snug insertion in the mortises. The ends of the sides 10 are provided with longitudinally projected vertically spaced keeper lugs 15, and the ends are provided with similarly spaced hook members secured on their outer sides and projecting horizontally over the trunnion members, and adapted to engage downwardly thereover as the side is presented between the end members and moved downwardly. The keeper lugs 15 are provided with notches arranged to engage the big'ht portion of the hooks to prevent outward movement of the sides at such engagement, and it will be seen that the sides and ends are cooperative for mutual support.

The inner section B comprises a bottom portion 17 end members 18 hinged thereto and of a width slightly less than that of the bottom, and side members formed of sections 19 and 20 respectively, hinged centrally of the sides, as shown. The opposite vertical edge portions of the end members 18 are transversely curved as at 21, and the adjacent end portions of the sections 19 and 20 are provided with curvate recesses 22 in their end inner side portions arranged to engage snugly and slidably against the curved surface 21. The side sections are hinged at their abutting portions for inward movement, and it will be seen that as they are pivot-ally moved with respect to each other, their extremities will be drawn inwardly, and owing to'the curved formation of the edges of the end members 18 and the recesses 22, there will be no tendency for the outer ends of the side members to dis tend a structure formed therearound. The are of the curvature of the contacting portions of the end members and side members should preferably be concentric with a point spaced outwardly of the end members 18, to further minimize the liability of fracture. Secured upon the inner faces of the end members 18, upon opposite sides adjacent vertical edges and disposed in vertically spaced pairs as shown, though their number may be increased as desired-are the lock blocks 25, comprising segmental castings having plane portions 26 disposed against the end members and having curved outer surfaces 27 of an arc coincident with that of the adjacent vertical edge portions 21 of the members 18, and adapted to form. a continuation thereof when presented, flush with said edge. Formed in the curved surfaces, there are horizontally extending sockets 28 extending only over a portion of the length of the block, forming a shoulder 29 a spaced distance from the plane of the inner surface of the side members, and opening through the curvate surface of the blocks upon their inner sides. Carried upon the adjacent end portions of the side mem bers, there are bayonet lugs 30, secured upon the inner surface of the end members, and having a projecting bill portion 31 disposed in spaced relation with the end members and adapted to project snugly into the inner ends of the recesses 28 when the side members are in extended position. Folding action of the side members will withdraw the bayonet pins from the sockets as will be readily understood. When in extended position and engaged with the end members 18 properly a central brace bar 32 is inserted centrally between the side members, by which they are held securely in extended position. If desired, suitable check blocks 33 may be secured to certain of the sections and adapted to project over the inner surface of the opposite section whereby their distention beyond a common plane will be prevented.

It will be seen that when the hinged ends are moved upwardly and the side portions engaged therewith as above described carried by the respective side sections, and located adjacent their outer extremities, there are L-shaped hook members 35 secured upon their inner surfaces and having inwardly projecting bills disposed slightly above their inner edges. These devices are intended for the support of the inner mold section B within the .outer section in proper spaced relation therewith, and in the accomplishment of this a crank hanger 36 is utilized having a central portion adapted to be engaged beneath the rected upwardly and then outwardly to provide trunnions 37 arranged to rest upon the upper edges of the outer section, as shown.

There is used in connection with this device a suitable rabbet forming section C which comprises the horizontal portion 38 in the form of a rectangular frame adapted to snugly encircle the upper edge of the inner mold section, and a vertical wall portion 39 extending vertically from the outer edge of the portion 38, as shown. This rabbet member is formed in two L-shaped sections. one extremity of the short arm of one section being detachably engaged with the long arm of the opposite section by suitable fastening means, as shown.

Suspended between the outer and inner mold sections, there is a structurally integral basket reinforcing member E, and being formed of a plurality of longitudinally extending wires 40, having their opposite end portions turned upwardly to form end supports, and transversely extending wire members 41, having their end portions similarly turned up to form side retaining portions; and intermeshed and properly secured to these, there are a plurality of horizontal encircling wires 12, the

holes forming a very firmly constructed device. The longitudinal and transverse members etO and 41 are properly secured at their intersection on the bottom of the basket member, and if desired an additional number of filling wires may be engaged between these, as illustrated at 43.

Certain of the transverse members 41 have their end portions extended upwardly above the basket member as shown at H, these portions being engaged around the crank portion 36 of the supporting member 35, outwardly of the inner section B, as shown at 45. In this manner the basket is firmly supported intermediately of the two mold sections while suitable plastic material is introduced therein.

In the use of the device, various methods may be pursued, but the preferable order of operation consists in first assembling the exterior mold as described, introducing a sufiicient quantity of plastic material thereinto to support the basket at the proper height, after which a further quantity of the plastic is disposed over the bottom of the basket to a proper depth to contact with the bottom of the interior section B when properly supported within the exterior mold, after which the crank member 35 is engaged beneath the hook members carried upon the sides of the inner section, the keeper lugs being used as handles for the support of the section and its adjustment in place. The upwardly projecting portions 44 of the transverse wires are then secured around the shank portion 36, whereby the 65 hooks, immediately adjacent which it is di r device will be kept from sinking in the plastic already disposed in the mold, as well as being held against lateral displacement. Of course, if a very thin plastic is utilized, the basket and inner section may be secured in place before the introduction of the plastic, as a thin grouting would very readily flow around and fill in all spaces between the mold elements. After adjustment of the basket and the interior mold, the plastic is introduced in a quantity to bring it to a level with the upper edge of the inner section, after which the wires 44 are detached from the crank member 37 and bent laterally, after which the rabbet sections will be disposed in place upon the inner section and the introduction of plastic continued, in the space between the rabbet member and the upper edge portion of the outer section A. When the plastic has become properly set, first the rabbet section and then the inner section B are removed, after which the outer section may be folded downwardly from around the casket which may then be removed. in any suitable manner to its proper place for storage or use.

On account of the great weight of this casket, it might not be convenient to handle it in the manner customary with wooden caskets of the present day, and therefore I have provided a lightly constructed device comprising a wire framework 50 of suitable strength covered with suitable upholstery 51, of any suitable character and which may or may not be provided with the cover 52,

as shown. This supplementary casket is adapted to be set in the previously described container, and inclosed beneath the usual lid as described.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, the combination with a bottom and end members connected therewith, said end members having transversely curvate vertical edges and centrally hinged side members adapted for inward folding movement at their centers, said side members having transversely curvate vertically disposed recesses adjacent their extremities and upon their inner sides, segmental blocks secured to the inner faces of the end members, and having curvate inner surfaces adapted to form a continuation of the curved edge portions of the end members and provided with horizontal recesses extending inwardly of the end members, and ending outwardly in a shoulder spaced from the surface of the side members, and longitudinally projecting members carried by the side members and adapted to project into the recesses of the blocks when in extended position, said members being adapted to coact as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BISWELL.

Witnesses:

C. C. DIMMINTT, L. E. BROM. 

